Yorkshire music blog

Types unleash their “post-post punk” album for the world’s ears to hear

Some would say that Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, the major cities of the UK, are saturated with music. Some would say that every artist that belongs to each of these famous cities’ music scenes are simply carbon copy’s of the band that went before them. Some would be right in thinking so. Last week however, there was a new addition to the famous Manchester scene as “Types” released their blistering debut EP The Future is Close Enough – this EP is like nothing you’ll have heard before. They have invented the genre post-post punk rock and have done it quite brilliantly. We’ve reviewed all eight tracks and got the lowdown on the band and the EP from Dean (Types) prior to the release last week.

We asked Dean how the band came to be Types as they are today – “we’d all been in other bands together and with other people and this was just an exercise in using different methods of assembling and constructing music without limitations, but then we were stuck with just the three of us and not enough musicians to actually perform it, until we just decided to try it out with the three of us and a few other bits of machinery – once we’d done that, we then had our starting point and our blueprint of how the band functions which then set us off writing and recording the new LP.”

So as mentioned, Dean suggested that Types style has “been labelled post-post-punk which does kind of make sense… it’s a new, modern reinterpretation of minimal, atmospheric guitar music i guess?” which makes for an interesting listen let me tell you. At just 27 minutes long, if you have a spare half an hour at any point in your day this week I promise you, listening to this EP is the best thing you can do. Dean said the band take influence from a whole host of artists including “Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, Caribou [who] all influenced more of the atmospherics and moods of the LP as a whole -[as well as] faithful guitar influences of Ride, Interpol and Diiv” suggesting that a range of genres are going to be on offer with the EP.

Kicking off with the short Untitled Building Society Introduction, the EP eases it’s way in with an experimental style of Manc-rock with a strong drum beat, consistent rhythm guitar and vocals largely in the background. The album progresses into Overhead Power Lines a mellow track reminiscent of..well nobody really – the sound really is unique. At times you get bits of Foals, bits of New Order but really, the sound is incomparable. The third track is where the album takes a turn that is unexpected with a trippy electro rhythm that adds huge depth to the EP as it shows that unlike other anti-establishment acts such as Cabbage, Types aren’t one dimensional, aren’t delivering simple songs that sound like they’ve been made in 30 seconds but there is depth and layering and proves this musical style can have class too.

Mild Learning Difficulties is the highlight for me. It’s the cleanest, most radio ready and that suits the way my ears tend to listen to music. With superb riffs launching the song – the vocals are the clearest of any track and it feels the most complete of any of the songs. Regarding the most popular tracks, Dean suggested that “Overhead Power Lines” is a favourite [of his], but a lot of people have been excited about “Mild Learning Difficulties” too. Some people like “It’s Like A Morgue In Here” even though it’s a bit more of a minimal experimental glitchy mash up of synths, drum loops and big walls of guitars. Depends what you’re into.”

Track five, K-Wave is the most “typical Manc” song on the EP . It’s got a more uplifting tone due to the faster guitars and higher lead notes that lead into the Untitled Building Society Interlude. It’s clear the EP has certain themes just based on the titles of the tracks and Dean added that the main themes are “trade, shipping, delivery… consumerism in general and how it’s affecting us without us even knowing it, be it good or bad. Our towns and cities will soon become surrounded by high walls of stacked up shipping containers” which are reflected in the EP’s artwork.

The last two tracks are yet again different sounding with China Shipping neatly matching the themes indicated above. This is the most musically complex in my opinion with off rhythm drum sections, ear splitting lead guitar and a killer bassline that complement the slow sections of the track perfectly. Although we haven’t yet seen the band live – it’s hard to imagine any track but this being the standout live song. It was hard then for us to see how the final track could add anything more than what had already been crafted in the first seven but Tropical once again provided a new sound, a new dimension to the EP that I didn’t expect. The piano drives the song from the off with electro-sounds being layered over the top before the mellow vocal comes in. It’s actually a difficult track to describe as it has aspects of music I’ve never heard before with the tech features whilst having a simple but effective piano melody throughout – it’s just a lovely end to a stunning piece of music.

Considering the EP was done so quickly “not even 6 months” Dean suggested, it really is an excellent debut. But rather than dwell on the release, Dean says that the release is “good because now we can make a start on new music and hopefully try and push even more boundaries.”. Last weekend they played with a band doing similar things in Manchester The Blinders, prior to the show Types were excited about playing alongside them – “[it] should be good to bring our live show, with all our crazy lights and improvised audio processing to the stage and there’s no better hype band to be supporting right now than The Blinders either – I (Dean, guitarist) produced their first EP and went to a few of their early gigs, so I’ve seen them come quite a long way in a short space of time.”

Moving forward into 2017, the band want to set up their own club night and name it “post-post punk”. Dean also had things to say on how he thinks the world can become a better place in 2017. “I think we need to challenge people’s band wagon jumping and encourage more people to think for themselves and form their own opinions rather than “challenge the establishment” especially these days, with so many people just joining in with whatever their social media bubble is telling them to.” And regarding music I asked if there was one thing he would change about the music industry itself and he said “it would be to make musicians realise they’re the ones with the power, and the labels, agents, publishers, promoters are all there to serve them. we might be changing the way we consume music, but songs aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.”

The EP is available on Spotify now so go check it out when you have a spare half hour, it’s worth it we promise!